Yamaha Adds More Oomph To Its Sports Tourers

The Yamaha Tracer 900 has been a huge success in foreign markets, with the company claiming the sports tourer being sold three times more than its closest rival last year. Now, with the new emission regulations, Team Blue has given the bike a new lease of life.

The 2021 bike has been renamed the Tracer 9, and it features the same 890cc, in-line triple motor that we saw on the 2021 MT-09 unveiled last month. The performance outputs are the same as the MT, rated at 119PS at 10,000rpm and 93Nm at 7,000rpm. The peak torque now comes in 1,500rpm lower in the rev range to suit the sports tourer’s character.

The engine is cradled in a new die-cast deltabox frame and has been mounted more upright for better front-end feedback. Complementing the new setup is an updated swingarm, which despite being longer, manages to maintain the same wheelbase as the outgoing model at 1,500mm by changing the pivot points.

Electronic package on the Tracer 9 has been thoroughly updated as well. The six-axis IMU monitors the roll, pitch and yaw to govern the traction control, ABS, wheelie control and slide control system. It also comes equipped with cruise control as standard and four riding modes tailored for different riding conditions.

The hardware has been updated as well and the Yamaha now sports 298mm dia discs at the front coupled with a radial master cylinder. Suspension duties are handled by 41mm KYB forks at the front and an updated KYB monoshock with new linkage.

The Yamaha Tracer 9 also receives a thoroughly updated design. The new LED headlights, adjustable windshield and bodywork render it an aggressive appearance. Yamaha has also thrown in two 3.5-inch dual colour TFT displays to complete the update.

If the Tracer 9 doesn’t cut it for you, Yamaha’s got a fully-loaded GT version that comes with goodies like semi-active KYB suspension, bi-directional quickshifter, cornering lights and heated grips.

Yamaha hasn’t announced the price of the 2021 Tracer 9 twins yet. The bikes will arrive at dealerships in Europe from March 2021. Needless to say, Yamaha will not be bringing these sports tourers to India anytime soon.